I'm no stranger to the soccer field. My dad, whose college nickname was Elep (Pele backwards), spent many weekends teaching me the sport and cheering me on at games. While it has been many years since I've played, I’m still able to take the lessons learned on the grass and apply them to my role as a social strategist.

1. Top 9 Social Lessons
Learned from Soccer
By Deirdre Walsh
@JiveSoftware

2. Growing Up
I'm no stranger to the soccer field. My
dad, whose college nickname was
Elep (Pele backwards), spent many
weekends teaching me the sport and
cheering me on at games. While it has
been many years since I've played,
I’m still able to take the lessons
learned on the grass and apply them
to my role as a social strategist.
ME

3. 1. Master the
Fundamentals
• Just like players need to
understand how to dribble,
pass, and shoot, community
managers must develop a core
set of skills.
• These talents include content
creation, project management,
and relationship building.
• Once you master these
competences, you can move
on to advanced techniques like
gamification, business
analytics, and platform
optimization.

4. 2. Listen to Your
Coach
• A strategic, passionate coach is
a key to winning.
• Community managers must
also have an executive sponsor
who is vested in the success of
the team. This leader authorizes
funding and resources,
approves key policies, and
champions the success of the
program among the e-staff.
• Most importantly, the executive
sponsor has the strength to
empower cultural change.

5. 3. Have a Game
Plan
• In sports, every game plan is
unique. Similarly, each roadmap to
online community success varies.
That’s because businesses use
communities to accomplish a wide
range of goals, such as customer
support, strategic alignment,
partner relationships, etc.
• Despite the variety, community
managers must have a well-
documented plan with measurable
objectives, strategic use cases
and technical features prioritized
on potential impact to the
business and ability to execute.

6. 4. Be 100%
Committed
• Good soccer players are
dedicated 24/7. They practice,
watch what they eat, and live
and breathe the game.
• The same applies to social
professionals. It’s an “always
on” job. There are no customer
service timeouts or Twitter
rainouts.
• When conversations spike or
news breaks, the community
manager has to be available.

7. 5. Play with
Passion
• As with anything in life, you are
more successful if you’re
passionate.
• Luckily with both soccer and
social that zeal comes naturally.

8. 6. Keep a Level
Head
• Just like soccer opponents try
to slide tackle you, online
communities are full of strikes
on the brand.
• It’s crucial for community
managers to help alleviate
tense situations and not fuel
them.

9. 7. Find Strength in
Your Team
• Many of the world’s leading
soccer scorers have
contributed their success to the
pinpoint passing skills of their
teammates.
• Likewise, good community
managers rely on strong
communication and
collaboration with individuals
across the organization.
• Everyone from legal to
marketing has a position to
play.

10. 8. Appreciate Your
Fans
• Every soccer team has a set of
rabid fans, but so do strong
online communities.
• That’s because these online
networks are more than just
modern communication
vehicles. They are made up of
people who have a shared
passion and shared “why.”
• Renowned community
managers put their fans first;
empowering, amplifying and
rewarding them.

11. 9. Celebrate Your
Gooooaaaalllls!
• In both soccer and social,
numbers matter.
• Nothing is more rewarding then
winning!

12. From kids playing in the streets of St. Louis to
professionals duking it out in Brazil, soccer touches so
many lives. In the same light, so does social. I’ve watched
as the role of community manager has evolved from
something delegated to the intern into a respected
profession sought out by the world’s most powerful
brands. No matter where you fall on the spectrum of either,
know that you are part of something big.
Deirdre Walsh
Director of Social Strategy
Jive Software
For more community management insights, visit The Jive Community.